Welcome to the Brazil Initiative!
In response to the growing global importance of Brazil in economic and political spheres, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s International Division and the Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies (LACIS) Program have begun an interdisciplinary initiative aimed at producing collaborative research, teaching and outreach projects focused on Brazil.
The overarching goal of the Brazil Initiative is to bring faculty and alumni together with private donors, businesses and state agencies to help Wisconsin better understand and engage with Brazil as an emerging global economy. The Brazil Initiative will also work to expand UW-Madison’s Study Abroad Programs in Brazil. This initiative builds on Wisconsin’s long-standing involvement with Brazil. Portuguese language instruction at UW-Madison goes back almost 70 years and the Summer Intensive Portuguese Institute, supported by the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI program, has been offered since 1985.
Professor Severino Albuquerque (Department of Spanish and Portuguese) is the appointed faculty lead and director of the Brazil Initiative. A faculty steering committee has been convened to oversee the activities of the Brazil Initiative.
Activities
A series of workshops for Wisconsin businesses with interest in trade and exchange with Brazil. Sponsors: UW-Madison School of Business/CIBER, the WI Outreach Consortium (WIOC), and Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Partially supported by the Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Fund. (Launch – Summer 2009)
Tinker Visiting Professorships. Professor Glauco Arbix, from the University of São Paulo taught and conducted research on Brazil’s socio-economic and political issues at the UW-Madison School of Business (Fall semester 2010).
Major conferences on US-Brazil relations beginning with a Fall 2010 follow up to the Nabuco and Madison conference, under the direction of Emeritus Professor of Law David Trubek.
A Writers in Residence Program at UW-Madison, in collaboration with the Consulate of Brazil in Chicago. (began Fall 2009)
Appointment of Honorary Fellows to conduct independent research on Brazil and U.S. economic and political relations. First fellow: Professor Wilson Almeida, Professor of International Relations at the Universidade Catolica de Brasilia.
A series of visiting invited speakers in diverse fields with expertise on Brazil (see events page).
A series of visiting officials of governments, industry, business and commerce, beginning in April 2009 with Diana Page, immediate past U.S. consul in Recife, Brazil.
Expand exchange programs such as the existing agreement between the UW Law School and the Pontifical Catholic University in Rio de Janeiro.
Foster interdisciplinary research and academic activities in areas of shared interest for Brazil and the United States.
Expand study abroad, field work and internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students interested in Brazilian studies.
Convene Brazilian UW alumni and other Brazilianists in conjunction with professional conferences to initiate new collaborative efforts. The first such meeting took place during the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) conference in Rio de Janeiro in 2009.
Brazil-Related Courses
Brazil-Related courses for Fall 2012 at UW-Madison
Please refer to the Timetable for details, schedules, and instructors.
Emerging Market Impacts on Global Agriculture. Geog 930 / Envir St 900. Seminar with focus on Brazil. Instructor: Professor Holly Gibbs, Department of Geography. Taught in English.
Race and Ethnicity in Brazil. LitTrans 260. Open to first-year undergraduate students as a FIG class. Instructor: Professor Kathryn Sanchez. Taught in English.
Race and Ethnicity in Latin America. Inter L&S 110. First-Year Seminar in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Instructor: Professor Mara Loveman. Taught in English.
The Invention of Brazil’s Nordeste. Port 751. Instructor: Professor Severino Albuquerque. Taught in Portuguese.
Portuguese language classes for all levels! Port. 101, 201, 225, 301, 311.
Brazil-Related courses for Fall 2011 at UW-Madison
Please refer to the Timetable for details, schedules, and instructors.
Contemporary Brazilian Society. Inter L&S 110. Open to first-year undergraduate students as a FIG class. Instructor: Professor Mara Loveman. Taught in English.
Development Theory. Soc 925. Grad. Instructor: Professor Gay Seidman. Taught in English.
Brazilian Poetry since 1950. Port 751. Instructor: Professor Severino Albuquerque. Taught in Portuguese.
Portuguese language classes for all levels! Port. 101, 201, 225, 301, 311.
Brazil-Related courses for Fall 2010 at UW-Madison
Please refer to the Timetable for details, schedules, and instructors.
Contemporary Brazilian Society. Inter L&S 110. Open to first-year undergraduate students as a FIG class. Instructor: Professor Mara Loveman.
History of Brazil. Hist. 555. Instructor: Professor James Sweet.
Contemporary Brazilian Theatre. Port. 751. Instructor: Professor Severino J. Albuquerque.
Growth, Firm Strategies, and the New Development State. IB 365/IB 765/LACIS 440. Section 002. Instructor: Tinker Visiting Professor Glauco Arbix.
Brazil Colloquium. LACIS 440, Sect. 001. Guest lecturers.
Brazilian Portuguese Language and Culture. For evening MBA students. Instructor: Ronaldo Ribeiro.
Portuguese language classes for all levels! Port. 101, 201, 225, 301, 311, 330.
Contact Us
To contact us, call one of the listed phone numbers, send an email to one of the following addresses or submit feedback using the form below.
Severino Albuquerque – Director of the Brazil Initiative
Phone: 608-262-2528
Email: sjalbuqu@wisc.edu
Israel Pechstein – Assistant to the Director of the Brazil Initiative
Email: pechstein@wisc.edu